Following their release of Yakuza: Dead Souls back in 2012, SEGA went fairly quiet when it came to their plans for the continually developing Yakuza franchise. After a several-year hiatus, the company released Yakuza 5 digitally in 2015 – three years after its original Japanese release date – and have fortunately not disappointed with their plans for the franchise ever since. With plans outlined up until 2018 with their planned English localised release of Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, the future is looking promising for the franchise in western markets.
For their 2017 release, Sega are giving fans the chance to go back in time, to explore the origins of both Kazuma Kiryu and Goto Majima, and discover what made them the people we were first acquainted with in Yakuza 1 and beyond. Yes, this means that for the first time in a major numbered Yakuza title, you can play as the “Mad Dog” Goro Majima.
Want to know more about the story?
Yakuza 0 tells the origin stories of Kazuma Kiryu, the rising Dragon of Dojima, and Goro Majima, before he’s known as the Mad Dog of Shimano, as they fight, hustle, flirt, and dance their way through the seedy underbelly of Japan. Taking place in a chilly but electric Kamurocho, Tokyo in December 1988, Kiryu’s story follows his steady ascension up the ranks of the Dojima yakuza crime family until he gets blamed for a debt collection gone wrong. Kiryu must utilize his cunning and his fists in order to regain his honor and save the reputation of his father figure, Shintaro Kazama. Meanwhile, Goro Majima is running a popular cabaret in Osaka, but he wants more than anything to rejoin the yakuza clan that ousted him. He’ll need to complete a series of impossible tasks set by his bosses, but will these tasks push Majima past the point of no return?
While other recent Yakuza games have taken us to a modern version of the red light district Kamurocho, Yakuza 0 will see us explore a somewhat different version of the city. Like past games, you will be able to take part in quests, fight shady characters for cash (which this time flies out of their pockets), and take part in a range of activities from karaoke to disco dancing. There is also Sotenbori, Osaka to explore – providing its own distinct quests and activities.
SEGA have confirmed they will be offering a “few patch updates” in the coming weeks, which will add free downloadable content to the game for all players. Each batch will include new outfits, weapons, items and crafting equipment. The first DLC pack has gone live, and additional patches will be offered each week until February 14.
Developed exclusively for the PlayStation 4 and localised by SEGA of America, Yakuza 0 is now available for purchase in the Americas and PAL regions.
